Welcome to the Right Decision Service (RDS) newsletter for March 2024. Please forward this newsletter to others who may be interested. They can contact olivia.graham@nhs.scot to be added to the circulation list.
All except the infographic are also available as editable Word versions. Please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot if you would like Word versions.
Search and browse improvements are progressing well and the plan is still to release these in mid-May. The first stages of work on archiving and version control are complete. User stories (requirements) are being defined for:
These have all been compiled and effort estimated. Once the redesign work is complete, these will be prioritised in line with the remaining budget. We expect this to take place around late June.
A big thank you to all of you who have completed our Impact and Value questionnaire. The data from this will be really helpful in informing the first draft of the business case for long term provision of the RDS. This will be reviewed by the National Advisory Board for RDS later this month.
We welcome further responses. If you haven’t yet completed the survey, please follow this link, and please encourage other RDS toolkit leads and users to do so.
A few examples of toolkits published to live in the last month:
Some of the toolkits the RDS team are currently working on:
Please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot if you would like to learn more about a toolkit. The RDS team will put you in touch with the relevant toolkit lead.
The RDS Learning working group is progressing with developing training resources for editors, and intend to have resources to share by end of June. This includes resources for:
Just a reminder that we are offering webinars for existing and potential new editors on the following dates:
To book for one of these webinars, please complete the registration form at https://forms.office.com/e/eGjKqNVjeF
Many thanks to all of you who have met with me recently to complete or clarify your responses to the quality audit survey at the end of last year. Work to complete the quality audit for all toolkits published on RDS prior to November last year will continue for the next few months.
The RDS team is now working with Moray HSCP to evaluate impact of the new RDS toolkit “Preventing progress of diabetes” (https://preventdiabetes.scot.nhs.uk ) to support people at high risk of diabetes type 2 and those who are candidates for remission. We are looking at the impact of use of the app with SMS prompts on people’s readiness for lifestyle change over an 8 week period. This includes comparing impact in people who have a call with a dietitian in addition to using the app to people who only use the app.
If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact us on his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot.
With kind regards
Right Decision Service team
Healthcare Improvement Scotland
Respiratory conditions can be affected by anything from air quality and the weather to your housing. Being aware can enable you to make changes that could improve your wellbeing. Here we bring together links to a range of relevant topics. Each of the links opens in a new window/tab.
Living with a chest condition - Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS)
Air pollution can be a real issue for people with respiratory conditions so it is important that you know about the risks and how to avoid them, as far as possible. Each of the links below opens in a new window/tab.
Air pollution - Asthma + Lung UK
Indoor air pollution - Asthma + Lung UK
Living with a respiratory condition can have a major impact on your financial situation, so it's important to make sure that you get all the help which is due to you. Each of the links below opens in a new window/tab.
Financial support - a leaflet from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS)
Benefits and financial support - Asthma + Lung UK
Welfare support - Highland Council.
Anybody can self refer to the Highland Council Welfare Team by emailing: welfare.support@highland.gov.uk or phoning 0800 090 1004
Citizens Advice Scotland - or call 0800 028 1456 for free, one-to-one and impartial general advice on employment, housing, debt, benefits and consumer issues like energy bills as well as many other topics. Open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Worrying about money - a leaflet from Highland Council and NHS Highland
There is no reason why people with respiratory conditions shouldn't be able to travel and go on holiday, but you may need to spend a little extra time planning your trip. Each of the links below opens in a new window/tab.
Holidays and travel - My lungs, my life
Driving with a medical condition - a leaflet from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS)
Air travel - a leaflet from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS)
Travel and motor insurance - a leaflet from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS)
If you are living with a respiratory condition it can be especially important to ensure your home is warm and free from damp. Each of the links below opens in a new window/tab.
Home Energy Scotland - information and advice about reducing your energy bills, saving money and making your home warmer
Make my home warmer - Home Energy Scotland
Highland Council - Housing - housing information from the Highland Council
Citizens Advice Scotland - or call 0800 028 1456 for free, one-to-one and impartial general advice on employment, housing, debt, benefits and consumer issues like energy bills as well as many other topics. Open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Towards a Healthy Home - Managing Dampness, Humidity and Air Quality - a presentation from Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association
Healthy Home - Humidity and Air Quality - A Self Help Guide - a talk by Donnie Mackay, Energy Advice Manager
Did you know both cold weather and hot weather can trigger an exacerbation (flare up) of your symptoms, especially if you become dehydrated in hot weather. Each of the links below opens in a new window/tab.
Met office weather alert emails
Keeping well in cold weather - Asthma + Lung UK
Looking after your lungs in hot weather - Asthma + Lung UK
Are you Winter Ready? - a video from LGOWIT (now MySelf-Management)
Living with a long term respiratory condition does not necessarily mean that you will have to stop working. Each of the links below opens in a new window/tab.
Work and COPD - My Lungs, My Life
Citizens Advice Scotland - or call 0800 028 1456 for free, one-to-one and impartial general advice on employment, housing, debt, benefits and consumer issues like energy bills as well as many other topics. Open Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Respiratory Resource Hub for patients and carers